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Cat5 tether buoyancy

Posted: Jul 1st, 2016, 4:19 pm
by rsoko
Any tips on making cat5 neutrally bouyant to depths up to 100 feet (freshwater)? I have the cat5 ziptied to parachute chord about every 2 feet for strength to pull back in the rov if needed so I don't strain the cat5. The tether keeps getting tangled on the rocks and logs on the bottom.

https://youtu.be/FfdnKyCJnno

Re: Cat5 tether buoyancy

Posted: Jul 1st, 2016, 4:23 pm
by TigerShark
You could buy cat 5 that already has a strength member in it (pull rated) and then just put small floats on it every several feet or so.

Re: Cat5 tether buoyancy

Posted: Jul 1st, 2016, 4:29 pm
by rsoko
Yeah I wish I wasn't being so cheap when I bought it. I saw the cheap 125' feet for less than $10, but I have to be very careful with it so it doesn't kink.

Re: Cat5 tether buoyancy

Posted: Jul 1st, 2016, 4:29 pm
by rsoko
Does closed cell foam work as floats or is there something better?

Re: Cat5 tether buoyancy

Posted: Jul 5th, 2016, 2:24 pm
by TigerShark
You really need a hard closed cell foam for anything below 5-10 feet. Foam insulation board would work up to around 50 feet or so. I found at 60+ it would crush too much.